23 March 2014

"Sansa's Songs: Medieval Romance in A Game of Thrones" - March 28, 2:30-3:30, 113 Wimberly Hall

A Presentation of the English Department's William J. and Yvonne Hyde Colloquium Series.

Dr. Rebekah Fowler, English Department Faculty Member, will continue the English Department's 2013-2014 William J. and Yvonne Hyde Colloquium Series with a presentation entitled "Sansa's Songs: Medieval Romance in A Game of Thrones." This presentation argues that George R. R. Martin's use of the medieval romance genre in A Game of Thrones, the first book of the Song of Ice and Fires series, problematizes the genre's idealized heritage by simultaneously developing engaging characters for whom readers root and expressing life's complications, particularly where life and politics intersect. Martin's work demonstrates how medieval romance inadequately accounts for those complications while also proffering hopefulness for more positive, idealized, and simplified solutions to those complications. Postmodernity, Martin seems to suggest, with all of its disruptions, discontinuities, and gray areas, desires the romance with all of its magic and fictivity, but only if it can be repurposed to better reflect postmodernity's myriad truths. The presentation runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28th, in 113 Wimberly Hall. The event is free and open to the public. To arrange for disability accommodations, contact [email protected] or call 785-8295.